26/08/2025
Excavated raised earth bed + chinampa canal system, for within appropriate bio-regions landscapes, mostly unlined or gleyed, depending on site subsoil strata conditions, potentially a solution where nearby river has flooded the fields and may well again. Is there a way of this possible to work, or totally logistically not feasible? Proper full and thorough consultation with experienced Hydro and Earthworks engineer professionals is imperative, and guidance of local elders, and leading examples of other similar systems and details of all the working dynamics of water level components, pumping requirements (multiple hydraulic rams etc), to any reservoir storages with head pressure required, to keep water levels and flow steady throughout the year, properly keyed in levy banks and scale appropriate level sill spillways retained and planted out with best purpose species, pipe sizing overscale for requirements, swivel-able rubber ring elbow pipe fittings and any other equipment setups to facilitate adjustable positions to as conditions govern, circulating pump requirements, {thru baffle reedbeds if needed} flowforms, oxygen stones, aeration pumps, fountains, etc oxygenation features as well as oxygenating plant species. System designed to mitigate flood water, in such a way that can basically have plug pulled to drain to where least destruction or harm is caused, or excess deluge entry bypassed around capacity from source to sink, once full, a gentle absorbing and dissipating passive pulsating energy mode of functioning, and less of a way forcing flow directions against others, causing reactions coming back against on. Canal widths to suit a decent size digger/excavator, for moving bulk of earth material, after making test/reconnaissance holes determining soil, subsoil, and bedrock strata depth constraints over the entire area. Topsoil removed and placed aside to be re-spread on top in strategic sequence, maybe also using smaller digger where sensible to, in such a way over extent of area, possibly varying through 3 or so different tier heights of raised crop field strip beds, at widths you gauge are best for specific crop guild assemblies and that excavated topsoil volumes allow you to form, shape and sensibly relatively place, which may be in varying widths and heights over the area, from bog/swamp crop species bed heights, to middle ground, decently well raised above river floods, with good enough drainage for most species, but still with roots access to capillary soakage from groundwater underneath, to a next fairly even higher level where dryer land species that require free drainage without seasonal wet feet can suit to grow. All well above the rivers likely possible future flood levels. As productive and ecologically functioning bog, swamp, pond edge, and freshwater aquatic polycultures, while keeping your field soil crop bed strips safe above the floods reach. Trellis vine crops spanning over canals providing shade, tunnel houses over canal sections, with long narrow duck/poultry night hutch boxes along parallel sealed and joined at base of tunnel houses, with meshed vents joining atmosphere between, for ambient greenhouse air warmth overnight and increased carbon dioxide saturation levels, hinged sloped rooves for easy egg collection and bed material maintanence avoiding bad ammonia problems, and hanging thermal drape strips as self re-closing poultry access ways to and from etc, Read notes on attached diagram for further details {may require magnifying/zooming in on to read, as just rough sketch sorry}. All this I am looking to mentors for guidance on, is this possible? worthwhile? and workable in its right place? This isn't supposed to be self promotional, or on the topic of any status deserved got from it, theres alot I dont assume to know, but i'm willing to learn, and im happy to take directions from, and be taken under elder earth whisperers wings, or even also tag along with a design team to gain more experience:} What do yaz think?
Some of the species:
water lillies, taro(even just for leaves), raupo, comfrey, aquatic mint, basil mint, brahmi, water celery, watercress, water chestnuts, water spinach, swamp sunflower, canna lillies, small cranberries, large cranberries, duck potatoe, papyrus, veviter grass, marsh mallow, swamp rose mallow, garlic mustard, horseradish, gotu kola, angelica, medowsweet, spagnum moss, Cyperus longus- sweet galingale, Golden Saxifrage, Acorus calamus - Sweet Flag,
managed azolla, perennial rice, mimosa, moringa, sumac etc
Native freshwater mussels and fish, eels,
tilapia, yabbies, dragonflies,
tadpoles, possibly of best meat productive frog species?
ducks and other poultry,
silkworms
lizards
etc
potential fortress plant guilds, and anti pest, fungus, disease, and nutritious foliar sprays and soil drenches made where is, and chop and drop mulch bio-mass layer companion plants, under some periodically scythed off adjacent pasture hay sort of thing.
daffodils, daylilies, mexican marigolds, lemongrass, citronella grass, canna lillies, achira(arrowroot), russian comfrey or evergreen comfrey{only if theyr sterile seeded its important}, sorrels, garlic chives, mediteterranean saltbush, chamomile wormwoods, horopito, kawakawa, sages, veviter grass, tansy, violas, yarrow, chilean guavas, strawberries, pepino, nettles, rhubarb, nz spinach, american wild garlic{choose best strain of sterile seeded allium canadense], chinese artichoke, jerusalem artichoke, globe artichoke, cardoons, Goumi, burdock, lovage, alexandras, turkish rocket, 9th star broccolli, asparagus peas, chickpeas, yellow bush lupin, perennial tree collards, walking stick kale, scarlet runner beans, yellow asphodell, chokos, cleomi, nasturtiums, welsh bunching onions, bunching spring onions, bunching leaks, egyptian onions, small flax, maximillian sunflower, valerian, good king henry, Florence fennel, angelica, holy basil, native broom, or mākaka, Joe Pye W**d, Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed), astragalus milkvetch, Yuccas, Aloes, prickle-free prickly pears, Ginger, galangal, lavender, rosemaries, thyme, lemon verbina, lucerne, osage orange, elderberry, Greek oregano, Agave salmiana, Agave tequilana (blue agave), hen and chickens fern (mouku), the common shield fern (pikopiko), the gully fern (pākau), or the hound's tongue fern. Best kinds of mimosa, moringa, and sumac etc, the list goes on:}
